Apparatus for molding shell charges.



R. P. STOUT & W. L. LUKENS.

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING SHELL CHARGES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3. 1914.

1,176,325. 7 Patented Mar. 21,1916.

nil Mk5 such charges.

UNITED, sl rrnsfrnrnnr op n on.

ROBERT PAUL STOUT AND WILLIAM L. LUKENS, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNORS TO BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CORPORATION OE PENNSYLVANIA.

APIEARATUS Ton otmne SHELL'CHARGES.

; Specification of Letters Patent. Pat ted m y, 21, 191

Application filed October 3, 1914. Serial No. 864,935.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT PAUL STOUT and WILLIAM LESLIE LUKENS, citizens of the United States, and residents, respectively, of Bethlehem, Northampton county, and Bethlehem, Lehigh county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in- Apparatus for Molding Shell Charges, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus to be used in the manufacture of explosive charges for projectiles.

The invention has particular reference to the manufacture of charges made from an explosive which is of such a nature that it may be rendered fluid or semi-fluid by the application of heat.

It is the object of the invention to provide a simple apparatus for manufacturing One form of apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a central vertical section; Fig. 2 is a plan view. and Fig. 3 is a section of the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates a vessel which is open at the upper end and in which is arran ed a mold 11 having a cavitv 12 conformi g to the contour of the finished charge. The upper end of the mold 11 is provided with a tubular extension forming a riser 13 on the charge and this tubular extension has secured thereto and nreferablv formed integral therewith a. plate 14, which constitutes a cover for the vessel 10. The plate 14: supports the mold 11 a d is secured to the vessel 10 in any suitable manner, as by means of swing bolts 15.

The cavity 12 in the mold is so formed that the base of the charge is at the lower end of the mold and the riser 13 extends from the nose or pointed end of the charge. At the lower end of the mold there is a detachable plate or cover 16 which has an upward extension 17 arran ed in the cavity 12 and forming in the charge an opening for the fuse. The plate 16 may be secured to the mold 11 in anv suitable manner, as by means of swing bolts 18. If desired. the mold mav be lined with a form 19 of paper or other material adapted to serve as a protective casing for the charge. A. pipe 20 is connected with the lower part of the vessel 10, preferably below the bottom of the mold, and a pipe 21 is connected with the upper part of the vessel, preferably opposite the nose of the charge and at the bottom of the riser 13 so as to provide a space within the vessel 10 above the pipe and surrounding the riser.

' In using the apparatus the mold 11. may or may not be provided with the liner 19 and steam or other heating fluid is circulated through the vessel 10 by means of the pipes 20 and 21 so as to heat the mold 11 to the desired temperature. The explosive, after having been heated until it becomes fluid, is poured into the mold through the riser 13.. filling the cavitv 12 and also the riser. The heating medium is circulated through the vessel 10 until after the mold has been filled and then a cooling medium, such as water, is supplied to the vessel through the pipe 20 and discharged through the pipe 21. The circulation of the cooling medium. being upward in the vessel 10, causes the lower parts of the mold and the charge to be chilled first, the charge solidifving from the bottom upward and air bubbles and other foreign matter being thereby forced upward into the riser 13. On account of the pipe 21 being at the lower end of the riser it will be evident that the riser will be maintained in the heated condition until after the charge has been chilled so that all of the air bubbles and impurities will pass into the riser. After the explosive has solidified the mold is remo ed from the vessel 10 bvmeans of the eye bolts 22, the bolts 15 being released. The plate 16 is then removed and the cha e taken out of the mold.

WVhen the liner 19 is used the contraction of the mold 10. due to cooling, forces the liner into intimate cont ct with the charge so hat they adhere firmlv together.

Bv arran ing the mold with the base of the charge downward the densest part of the charge is located about the center of detonation.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for molding shell charges, the combination of a vessel having an opening in its upper side, a vertically arranged mold in said vessel and removable through said opening, said mold having a cavity,

conforming to thercontour of the desired finished charge, the bottom of the cavity forming; the base of the charge and there being a riser extending from. the nose of the charge, a readily detachable member forming, the bottom of said. mold,

and means whereby a heat-exchanging medium may be circulated through. said. vessel. 2. In apparatus for molding shell charges,

' the combination of a vessel having 3111013811 mg in its upper side, a vertically arranged mold in sald vessel'anol removable through said opening, said mold having a cavity,

conformingto the contour of the desired finished charge, the bottom of the cavity Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing'jthe, (lommissioner of mam forming the base of the charge and there being a riser extending, fromvthe noseof. the charg a. readily detachable member forming the bottom of said. mo and: Whe by the charge may be removed from the .mold, and, inlet. and, outlet pipes connected with said vessel at different levels, the upper of. said. pipes being below thetop'oi the. vessel and substantially on a level with the bottom of said: riser In testimony whereof we alfix our signa tures in presence of two Witnesses. ROBERT PAUL STOUT;

WILLIAM L. LUKE'NS. Witnesses: V i

JAMEs L. GADDEN,4

EDWIN A; MILLER.

Washington, 13.0. 

